Communication process in a telecommunications network

ABSTRACT

A communication process in a telecommunications network between a processing member and at least one terminal (11) remote therefrom allows a subscriber equipped with a multi-user terminal or an identification module to choose at least one access area (21) to the network in which he benefits from special conditions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a communication process in atelecommunications network.

The technical field of the invention is that of communication systemswith mobiles or people GSM (registered trademark), DECT (ETSI standard),Pointel (registered trademark), DCS 1800 (system identical to the GSMsystem with a frequency of 1800 MHz, etc.). The field of the inventionis also that of chip or memory card public telephone networks.

PRIOR ART

The invention more particularly relates to the allocation of specificaccess conditions (pricing, free numbers, special services, call arearestriction, etc.) for public telephone networks or radio-communicationswith mobiles (GSM, Pointel, DECT, DCS 1800, etc.).

In a R2000 network, the rates in force are a function of the relay andtime:

a red rate applies to calls on relays of the Paris region and in thenational subscription framework France North East and Ile de France,

a green rate applies to other calls.

In the Itineris network, the rates in forces are a function of the timeand the departement where the call is made:

a first rate applies for calls made from departements 75, 92, 93 and 94from 8 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. Monday to Friday,

a second rate applies for calls made from the metropolis outsidedepartements 75, 92, 93 and 94 from 8 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. Monday toFriday,

a third rate applies for calls made from the metropolis from 9.30 p.m.to 8 a.m. Monday to Friday,

a fourth rate applies to calls made on Saturdays, Sundays and publicholidays.

The pricing used in the SFR network is based on the same principles.

The pricing principles applied in networks nowadays are a function ofthe call area and the time range. In no case do they make use of an areachosen by the subscriber.

The solutions used in the Radiocom 2000 network (registered trademark)and GSM network do not make it possible to allocate specific accessconditions to a subscriber. In addition, it is not possible to applyspecial conditions for calls made in a given area (commercial centres,business centres, etc.) and to disclose the advantages thereof to thesubscriber.

Patent application EP-A-597 638 describes a cellular telephone systemhaving mobiles, which can be displaced within cells and between thelatter. Each cell has a base station. The pricing rate applicable toeach mobile is a function of the area in which it is located. In a firstexample, each mobile can operate at a low rate when it is located in itsown area or local area and at a higher rate elsewhere, whereby the localarea can be formed by one or more cells. In a second example, a userpays a low rate when he is in his own local area and in certain otherspecified areas and a high rate elsewhere. Each base station emits anidentification signal on its own channel. This signal is recognized bymobiles located in the cell of said base station and they answerindicating in return their identity to the base station. The position ofeach mobile (i.e. the cell in which it is located) is consequently knownand this information is sent by the corresponding base station to acentral control unit. Each mobile in the corresponding cell, onanswering, displays to the user an identification of the cell or thecorresponding area, so that the user is aware of the rate which applies.An identification of the rate can also be displayed. The areacorresponding to each cell approximately corresponds to a givengeographical area.

Thus, the cellular telephone system uses a centralized data base fordetermining the charges which are to be applied. The aim of theinvention is to offer subscribers, in possession of a mobile terminal ora phonecard, specific access conditions to a telecommunications networkas a function of the area from which they are sending or receivingcalls, while solving the problems associated with the prior art devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a communication process in a tele-communications network between a base station and at least one terminalremote therefrom, in which a subscriber to said network equipped with aterminal or an identification module when said terminal is a multi-userterminal, to choose at least one access area to the network where hebenefits from special conditions, characterized in that said processcomprises the following stages:

during the design of the network remote loading of the coordinates ofthe base station by a centralized member,

from the access area to the network chosen by the subscriber, remoteloading into the terminal or identification module of cartographiccoordinates permitting the association with the subscriber of saidaccess area to the network where he will benefit from specialconditions,

during an access to the network, determination by the corresponding basestation whether special conditions apply to said access, by comparingits own cartographic coordinates with those stored and transmitted bythe terminal.

The process according to the invention has two advantageouscharacteristics compared with the aforementioned EP-A-597 638:

the equipment determining the pricing to be applied can be decentralizedas close as possible to the subscriber involving time and cost gains,

there is radio remote loading into the terminals of information elements(cartographic data) which will serve as application conditions (e.g.pricing).

In a first embodiment the telecommunications network is aradio-accessible network having access base stations, a base stationbeing associated with a terminal at the time of a call.

Advantageously, the different access areas are listed on a simplifiedmap, allocating to each access base station or each multi-user terminalelementary coordinates and/or personalized characteristics.

Advantageously, each access base station permits the localdiscrimination (without using more centralized equipment resources ofthe network), by subscriber to said network and on the basis ofcharacteristic informations, the local calls (with respect to a nominalgeographical area associated with said subscriber during the taking outof a line rental or during a specific operation following onto the same)made or received by said subscriber compared with non-local calls inorder to apply differentiated pricing or access conditions.

Advantageously, each access base station discriminates by subscriber tosaid network and on the basis of cartographic date, the local calls(with respect to a nominal geographical area associated with saidsubscriber during the taking out of a line rental or during a specificoperation following onto the same) made or received by said subscribercompared with non-local calls in order to apply differentiated pricingor access conditions.

In a second embodiment the telecommunications network is a multi-userterminal network, each having a physical access to a network subscriberidentification module.

Advantageously, each multi-user terminal locally discriminates (withoutusing more centralized equipment resources of the network) by subscriberto said network and on the basis of characteristic informations, thelocal calls (with respect to a nominal geographical area associated withsaid subscriber during the taking out of a line rental or during aspecific operation following onto the same) made or received by saidsubscriber compared with non-local calls in order to applydifferentiated pricing or access conditions. Advantageously, eachmulti-user terminal discriminates by subscriber to said network and onthe basis of cartographic data, the local calls (with respect to anominal geographic area associated with said subscriber during thetaking out of a line rental or during a specific operation followingonto the same) made or received by said subscriber compared withnon-local calls in order to apply differentiated pricing or accessconditions.

Advantageously, the terminals considered in the first embodiment can bemobile terminals. In the second embodiment the identification modulescan be memory cards.

Thus, the invention permits:

the subscriber to choose one or more call areas in which he has a rightto special conditions (pricing, special numbers, special services,etc.),

the user to increase his mobile clientele and increase traffic,

a tradesman to offer a special service (pricing, special numbers, etc.)in his shop, said network being based on a commercial agreement betweenthe tradesman and the network operator.

Moreover, the use of cartographic data makes it possible to overcomeproblems of updating data bases in the network when base stations areadded or cancelled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a distribution of different functions within anetwork.

FIG. 2 illustrates a Telepoint neighbourhood service.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The invention, whose technical field is that of communication systemswith mobiles or persons (GSM, DECT, Pointel, DCS 1800) enables asubscriber equipped with a terminal, e.g. a mobile station, or amulti-user terminal card, e.g. a public telephone, to benefit fromspecific conditions (pricing, call area restriction, free services ornumbers, etc.) as a function of the access area to the network.

One or more so-called neighbourhood areas close to the domicile or placeof work of the subscriber are chosen by the latter and other so-calledcommercial areas can be allocated special characteristics by a person(private individual or body corporate) for promotional purposes.

These areas are listed on a simplified map, by allocating to each accessbase station or each multi-user terminal elementary coordinates andsometimes personalized characteristics.

Therefore the subscriber is encouraged to use his mobile telephone orphonecard either in the areas which he has chosen, or in a commercial orattractive promotional environment.

Therefore the object of the invention is to enable the subscriber tomake economies with respect to his calls, the tradesman to attract morecustomers and the operator to increase his "mobile" traffic.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention consequently relates to acommunication process in a telecommunications network between aprocessing member and at least one terminal 11 remote therefrom. Thesubscriber 20 equipped with such a terminal 11, which can be a mobile oran identification module, e.g. a chip card for access to a multi-userterminal, e.g. of the public telephone type, can choose at least oneaccess area 21 to the network R in which he benefits from specialconditions.

In a first embodiment the telecommunications network is a radioaccessible network having access base stations, the latter beingassociated in each case with a terminal at the time of a call.

Advantageously, the different areas 23 are listed on a simplified map,in which to each base station 22 or each multi-user terminal isallocated elementary coordinates and sometimes personalized coordinates.

The processing member can be a separate member 10 or one of the accessbase stations or one of the multi-user terminals.

Each access base station can locally discriminate (without using morecentralized equipment resources of the network) by subscriber to saidnetwork and on the basis of characteristic informations, the local calls(with respect to a nominal geographic area associated with saidsubscriber during the taking out of a line rental or during a specificoperation following onto the same) made or received by said subscribercompared with non-local calls in order to apply differentiated pricingor access conditions.

Each call base terminal can also discriminate by subscriber to saidnetwork and on the basis of cartographic data, the local calls (withrespect to a nominal geographical area associated with said subscriberduring the taking out of a line rental or during a specific operationfollowing onto the same) made or received by said subscriber comparedwith non-local calls in order to apply differentiated pricing or accessconditions.

In a second embodiment the telecommunications network is a multi-userterminal network, each having a physical access to a network subscriberidentification module.

Each multi-user terminal can locally discriminate (without using morecentralized equipment resources of the network) by subscriber to saidnetwork and on the basis of characteristic informations, the local calls(with respect to a nominal geographic area associated with saidsubscriber during the taking out of a line rental or during a specificoperation following onto the same) made or received by said subscribercompared with non-local calls in order to apply differentiated pricingor access conditions.

Each multi-user terminal can also discriminate by subscriber to saidnetwork and on the basis of cartographic data, the local calls (withrespect to a nominal geographic area associated with said subscriberduring the taking out of a line rental or during a specific operationfollowing onto the same) made or received by said subscriber comparedwith non-local calls in order to apply differentiated pricing or accessconditions.

FIG. 1 illustrates the distribution of functions within a network R.Thus, the following are wired to the network R, on this occasion theTranspac network:

a Pointel decentralized operations centre CEDP permitting the collectingof coordinates of fixed radio base stations 22 (BFR), illustrated inFIG. 2, making it possible to obtain a BFR map and the broadcasting ofsaid coordinates,

a Pointel authentication centre (CAP) permitting a checking of theremote loading rights of the coordinates, to which is connected asubscriber service (SAB) controlling subscription creation,

a Pointel main operations centre (CEPP) permitting the collection oftickets, to which is connected a valorization and accounting service(SVF) permitting processing and accounting,

at least one base station connection unit (URB) permitting theindication of the rate in tickets, to which is connected a fixed radiobase station 22 (BFR) permitting the calculation of the distance,indication of the rate to the URB unit and the display of the rate onthe CEPP centre.

A description will now be given of two embodiments of systems permittingthe implementation of the process according to the invention.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

The first embodiment is an example permitting the allocation to asubscriber to the BiBop (registered trademark) network a special pricingsystem as a function of an area chosen by the subscriber.

Definition of the service

The aim of this service is to give a less expensive access to the BiBopnetwork close to the domicile of the subscriber (the neighbourhood ratewould be opposed to the present national rate).

A proximity zoning into small size cells, the neighbourhood Telepointservice being offered to subscribers solely on base stations coveringtheir domicile and the immediate vicinity (apartment block, neighbouringroad). This neighbourhood is defined by a distance to the domicilenotion.

The putting into place of such a service requires a device enabling thesubscriber to choose the area in which he wishes to benefit from reducedprice charges. This area can be defined by one or more test calls madeby the subscriber in the chosen proximity area.

The area chosen by the subscriber is used for routing incoming callswhen the subscriber is not expressly located (habitual locationprinciple).

Implementation constraints

The implementation and its control both with regards to the operationand the user system must be relatively simple. The subscriber must benotified on lifting the receiver of the rate (neighbourhood or national)by a voice message and/or a screen display, so that, if necessary(neighbourhood area limit), he can hang up before being charged. Thisservice must be available even when the authentication centre CAP, shownin FIG. 1, is not connectable.

Implementation

The implementation proposed is based on a simplified map, allocating toeach base station 22 (BFR) elementary coordinates permitting an easycalculation in the network of the distance between the nominal basestation of the subscriber and the base station under which he is makingthe present call. The accuracy necessary for this cartographic tool cane.g. be roughly ten meters.

The operator, at the instant of creating a base station, collects at thePointel decentralized operations centre CEDP, shown in FIG. 1, besidesthe normal characteristics, the coordinates in a cartographic system(e.g. Lambert). These coordinates are added to the operating data of thebase stations sucessively transmitted from the CEDP centre to the basestation connection units URB and then the URB units to their respectiveconnection base stations. The URB unit sends to each of its basestations its Cartesian coordinates.

One or more calls must define the area chosen by the subscriber. Whenthe area (one base station) has been chosen, the authentication centreCAP brings about, on receiving a particular number dialled by thesubscriber, a remote loading of the coordinates of the base station intothe hand set (cf. standard CT2 I-ETS 300 131). These coordinates arestored in the data transmission or TRD message. The coordinates of thebase station can be stored in the unused part of the TRD message.

The structure of the current TRD message is as follows: each letterrepresenting 4 bits:

    ______________________________________                                        AB CD EF GH                                                                             :     subscriber                                                                    identification                                                I         :     subscription 0:  public control                                               configuration                                                                                  subscription -                                                                1 or 2: private                                                               control subscription                         J         :     priority     0:  non-selection                                                                 subscription -                                                            1:  selection subscription                       KL MN OP QR ST                                                                          :     function                                                                      of the                                                                        configuration                                                                 (I)                                                           For I = 0                                                                     K = 1     :     incoming                                                                      calls                                                                         accepted                                                      L = 1     :     rapid                                                                         accounting                                                    M = 1     :     observation                                                   ______________________________________                                    

A first solution consists of using the digits N to T while retaining thestructure of the TRD message. An alternative is to define a newsubscriber configuration I=3 and use the values L to T for the locationof the base stations.

For subscribers who have subscribed to the "neighbourhood Telepoint"service (an indicator in the TRD message is positioned), the basestation BFR, on each call, calculates the distance between thecoordinates contained in the TRD message and the coordinates of the basestation under which the call has been established.

The distance beyond which the neighbourhood rate is not granted can becontained in a BFR time delay in meters. If the distance is below thislimit, the base station sends a display message on the hand setindicating to the subscriber whether or not he is in his neighbourhoodarea, so that, if desired, he can hang up before any charge is made. Avoice message can also be sent.

When the call is ended, the base station sends a BFR base stationhang-up indicating the rate used (a new field). A URB unit produces theticket by positioning a new flag in the "ticket indicator" fieldenabling the accounting service to differentiate between the two typesof rate.

The Lambert 2 coordinates are used by IGN (National GeographicalInstitute) during the complete digitization of maps of various regionsof France. The unit used by these coordinates is the meter. An accuracyof approximately 10 meters would appear to be adequate for theapplication of "neighbourhood Telepoint". Moreover, rather than coverthe entire territory of France by a single set of coordinates, it ispreferable to split it up into several areas, with each of which isassociated a new reference or marker. This makes it possible to operatein relative markers with smaller coordinate values. Therefore the handset must know the coordinates of the nominal base station of thesubscriber, as well as the number of the area to which the latterbelongs.

Thus, q is the number of free bits in the TRD message, n the number ofbits allocated to the coding of the area and p the number of bitsallocated to the coding of a coordinate. France is considered to be a1000 km square.

Knowing that an accuracy of about ten meters is necessary, the followingrelations are obtained: ##EQU1##

Digital application with half-bytes L to T used for the location of thebase stations:

q=36-2 unused bits=34

p=16

n=2

Thus, there are four areas 650 km square.

The greater the number of areas, the greater the risk of making a callunder a base station close to his domicile, but outside his area(necessity in this case of calculating distances between base stationsof different areas and therefore referenced in different markers). Thelarger the number of areas, the smaller the number of bits necessary forcoding coordinates. Therefore a compromise is necessary.

The collection of the coordinates of the base stations can be carriedout via a cartographic man-machine relation (RHM). If the CEDP centre isto be installed on the working station, it would be appropriate forcontrolling the location of the base stations to use ground datadigitized via a graphical interface to be defined.

It is also possible:

to extend the cartographic interface to maintenance operation (e.g.association of a colour with the state of a base station),

in the case of several operating entities to place cartographic data atall the terminals.

Summing up the necessary network evolutions

Remote loading of the coordinates of the base stations

Acquisition at the CEDP centre of the coordinates of the base stationsand the adequate area.

Addition of an article to the "data transmission" message (article 5:BFR base station coordinates incorporating the area of the BFR basestation coordinates). The maximum inter-base station area, on this sideof which a reduced rate can be applied, is placed in a BFR time delaywhich the base station must know how to manage.

Collection at the SAB subscriber service of the new subscription optioncalled "neighbourhood option".

Changes in the CAP centre-SAB service interface.

In the recording of the bases of the subscriptions of the CAP centre,addition of the neighbourhood option in the "subscription option" fieldand use of two high-order bits of the telepersonalization field forcoding the transparent telepersonalization of the coordinates (1 bit forthe request/1 bit for certification).

On the first call with the special number, the transparenttelepersonalization of the coordinates of the nominal base station isinitiated. As a function of the number, the base station places itscoordinates in the TRD message with an adequate format and sends same tothe URB unit in the "hand set authentication answer" message.

The control of the TRD message takes place at the CAP centre on thehalf-bytes A . . . M if I=0, on the half-bytes A . . . K if I=3 and onthe half-bytes A . . . T otherwise.

Holding a call

The base station calculates the distance between itself and the nominalbase station of the subscriber. A neighbourhood option (OV) flag isadded to the ticket and then three cases can arise:

the area is different for the current base station and the nominal basestation0V=0,

the area is the same, but d(inter-base station)>dmax0V=0,

the area is the same, but d(inter-base station)<dmax0V=1,

the commercial name of the service is displayed on the screen if 0V=1,otherwise BI-BOP appears,

a specific accounting of the "neighbourhood option" tickets isimplemented at the SVF service.

Second embodiment

The second embodiment is an example permitting the allocation to asubscriber of the BiBop network specific conditions as a function of thecall area of the subscriber.

Definition of the service

The aim of this service is to supply access conditions to the BiBopnetwork as a function of the characteristics of the call area(commercial centre, business centre, etc.). A proximity zoning intosmall size cells is offered to all subscribers, solely on the basestations covering the area defined by the operator.

Implementation constraints

The implementation and its control with respect to operation and theuser system must be relatively simple. The subscriber must be notifiedwhen removing the receiver of the rate by a voice message and/or ascreen display, so that, if appropriate (neighbourhood area limit), hecan hang up before being charged. This service must be available evenwhen the CAP centre is not contactable.

Implementation

The proposed implementation is based on a broadcasting of operating dataallocating to each base station (BFR) its own individual accessconditions.

At the time of creating a base station, the operator collects at theCEDP centre, apart from the standard characteristics, the accessconditions for calls made under said base station. The conditions areadded to the operating data of the base stations successivelytransmitted from the CEDP centre to the URB units and then from the URBunits to their respective connection base stations. The URB unit sendsto each of its base stations the conditions proposed to the user.

For each call, the BFR base station indicates by a voice message and/ora written message, the conditions applied for the call to be made. Whenthe call ends, the base station sends a BFR hang-up indicating theconditions used (a new field). The URB unit works out the ticket as afunction of the access conditions.

Summing up the necessary network evolutions

Remote loading of access conditions to the base stations

Acquisition at the CEDP centre of the access conditions associated witheach base station 22 (BFR).

Addition of articles in the "operating data transmission" message.

Article 6: type of rate.

Article 7: special numbers. etc.

Performing a call

The base station sends to the terminal a display indicating to it thespecial nature of the call and/or a voice message.

The commercial name of the service and/or tradesman is displayed on thescreen.

A specific accounting of the tickets takes place at the valorization andaccounting service (SVF).

GLOSSARY

CT2 : "Second Generation Cordless Telephone" (I-ETS 300 131)

CAI : "Common Air Interface"

OTAR : "Over the Air Registration"

URB : Base station connection unit

BFR : Fixed radio base station

CEDP : Pointel decentralized operations centre

CEPP : Pointel main operations centre

CAP : Pointel authentication centre

SAB : BiBop subscriber service

SVF : Valorization and accounting service

BiBop : Tradename of the Telepoint service of France Telecom in France

RHM : Man-machine relations

We claim:
 1. Communication process in a telecommunications networkbetween a base station (22) and at least one terminal (11) remotetherefrom, in which a subscriber (20) to said network is equipped with aterminal (11) or an identification module when said terminal is amulti-user terminal, to choose at least one access area (21) to thenetwork where he benefits from special conditions, characterized in thatsaid process comprises the following stages:during the design of thenetwork remote loading of the coordinates of the base station (22) by acentralized member (CEDP), from the access area to the network chosen bythe subscriber, remote loading into the terminal (11) or identificationmodule, cartographic coordinates permitting the association with thesubscriber of said access area to the network where he will benefit fromspecial conditions, during an access to the network, determination bythe base station (22) whether special conditions apply to said access,by comparing its own cartographic coordinates with those stored andtransmitted by the terminal.
 2. Process according to claim 1,characterized in that the telecommunications network is aradio-accessible network having access base stations (22), a basestation being associated with a terminal at the time of a call. 3.Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the different accessareas (23) are listed on a map, the map allocating to each access basestation (22) or each multi-user terminal elementary coordinatespermitting distance calculations within the network and/or personalizedcharacteristics.
 4. Process according to claim 2, characterized in thateach access base station to the network locally discriminates, bysubscriber to said network and on the basis of characteristicinformations or cartographic data, the local calls made or received bysaid subscriber, from non-local calls in order to apply accessconditions or differentiated pricing.
 5. Process according to claim 1,characterized in that the telecommunications network is a network ofmulti-user terminals, each having a physical access to a networksubscriber identification module.
 6. Process according to claim 5,characterized in that each multi-user terminal locally discriminates, bysubscriber to said network and on the basis of characteristicinformations, the local calls made or received by said subscriber, fromnon-local calls in order to apply access conditions or differentiatedpricing.
 7. Process according to claim 5, characterized in that eachmulti-user terminal discriminates, by subscriber to said network and onthe basis of cartographic data, the local calls made or received by saidsubscriber, from non-local calls in order to apply access conditions ordifferentiated pricing.
 8. Process according to claim 1, characterizedin that the terminals are mobile terminals.
 9. Process according toclaim 1, characterized in that the identification module is a memory orchip card.
 10. Process according to claim 2, characterized in that thedifferent access areas (23) are listed on a map, the map allocating toeach access base station (22) or each multi-user terminal elementarycoordinates permitting distance calculations within the network and/orpersonalized characteristics.
 11. Process according to claim 4,characterized in that the terminals are mobile terminals.
 12. Processaccording to claim 7, characterized in that the identification module isa memory or chip card.